Free SHAKESPEARE’ SECRET by Elise Broach Page B

“Yeah, sure.” He shrugged. “But that was a long time ago. And they don’t suspend you for looking at police files.”
    â€œNo, they probably arrest you,” Hero muttered.
    But she wheeled her bike out of the garage, and with the afternoon sun warm on their faces, they started down the street together.

CHAPTER
12
    They rode down the street, past Mrs. Roth’s yard with its burst of flowers, past Aaron’s house, where someone was washing a car in the driveway. Hero pedaled through the river of soapsuds trying to keep up with Danny. At the corner, he turned sharply and stopped, waiting for her.
    â€œYou’re pretty fast on that,” she said, veering around him.
    â€œYeah, on the quiet streets. It’s harder to keep up your speed when there’s traffic.”
    â€œSo how do we go? Grove?”
    Grove Street was the main avenue from Hero’s neighborhood into the center of town. It was a wide, long street with a steady stream of cars. The houses were bigger there, set back on deep lawns, with shrubs and fences shielding the yards from the road.
    â€œYeah, follow me,” Danny told her.
    Following someone on a skateboard, Hero discovered, could be a nerve-racking experience. Danny would sail ahead, then swerve and stop, often bumping into the curb when a car passed too close. As a result, Hero found herself pedaling furiously then slamming on her brakes. Once, a blue Jeep roared by and a girl leaned out the back window to yell, “Danny! Danny Cordova!”
    Danny turned to wave, and Hero had to steer onto the sidewalk to avoid crashing into him.
    â€œLet me ride in front,” she said.
    â€œBut you don’t know where you’re going.”
    â€œMaybe not, but I won’t get us both killed.”
    â€œOh, come on. I was just waving. You worry too much.”
    Hero sighed. “Then watch where you’re going.”
    â€œHey, you’re the one who almost ran into me. You watch where you’re going.”
    Hero guided her bike into the street again. She glanced irritably at Danny. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea.”
    â€œIt’s a great idea. And we’re almost there, so quit complaining.” Danny pushed off easily and coasted ahead, his slim frame shifting comfortably with the motion of the skateboard. Hero had no choice but to follow.
    Finally they reached the end of Grove and turned on to Main. There was the police station, a squat brick building with brass letters on the side that read POLICE HEADQUARTERS.
    â€œHeadquarters, that’s a joke,” said Danny. “They’ve only got eight cops.”
    â€œYour dad is the head of everything?” asked Hero.
    â€œYeah, he runs the place.”
    â€œHe must have been—” Hero paused. “Was he mad when you got suspended?”
    Danny took her bike from her and leaned it against the wall in the parking lot. He clamped his skateboard under one arm.
    â€œNot really,” he said.
    They walked through the double doors together, and Hero immediately felt her stomach clutch. She’d never been inside a police station before. They were standing in a tiny lobby. There was a bulletin board on one wall, covered in WANTED flyers that had bold letters with creepy photos. In front of them was a metal door with peeling paint and a large, sliding window. Through the window they could see a middle-aged woman with curly red hair typing at a computer. She smiled at Danny.
    â€œWell, hi, hon. Did you come to see your dad? He’s on patrol.”
    â€œHe’s still out? I thought he was coming back this afternoon.”
    â€œNot till later.”
    Danny hesitated, long enough that even Hero thought he looked like he was about to leave. Then he said, “Could we wait for him in his office?”
    â€œWell, sure, of course you can. I’m just saying it could be awhile. Come on through.”
    The red-haired woman smiled again, looking